LEADING OFF: What's happening in and around the Beaches

Friday

Hit the beach early on Saturday, May 11, in support of the Jacksonville Beach Lifeguards Competition Team during the group’s annual BeachFest 5K/10K run and fundraiser.

The race starts on the beach at 8 a.m. during low tide in front of the lifeguard station located at 2 Oceanfront N. in Jacksonville Beach. Participants will follow the shoreline up and down the beach.

Fees are $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K (running or walking). Proceeds will support the team’s travel and equipment costs. To sign up, go to goo.gl/e1RGLo.

Pet adoption event Saturday

Those needing a new furry family member to mother should check out the pet adoption event hosted by SAFE Pet Rescue at the Ponte Vedra Pet Supermarket on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The SAFE mobile adoption van will be onsite with plenty of pups to walk, cuddle or adopt.

Pet Supermarket is located at 880 A1A N. in Ponte Vedra Beach. Learn more at Safe-Pet-Rescue-FL.com.

Boardwalk Talk

The Beaches Museum presents local author Dorothy Fletcher for its next Boardwalk Talk at the historic Beaches Museum Chapel on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. Fletcher will present her book "Jacksonville on Wheels," a comprehensive look at how the automobile impacted the Jacksonville area.

Before the first car was even assembled, there were newspaper articles written about the concept. John Einig’s “chug-chug” machine marked the beginning of a car culture revolution that is still happening: riderless cars, electric cars, and car vending machines. Along the way of technological innovations, Jacksonville participated in the latest trends and models that the auto industry had to offer including the first roads, first bridges, first dealerships and speed records.

The event is free to Beaches Museum members with a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Visit BeachesMuseum.org or call (904) 241-5657 for more information.

Grief support group

Coping with the loss of a loved one can be emotionally devastating, but there is strength in numbers. The grief support group at St. Paul’s Catholic Church can help you share the journey with other men and women grieving the loss of a family member or dear friend.

The group meets on the third Thursday of each month in Room 102 and the next session is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Catholic Church is located at 435 First Ave. N. in Jacksonville Beach. For more information, call Kathy at (904) 553-8933 or Catherine at (904) 247-0665.

Discussion on Florida missions

The Archaeological Institute of America—Jacksonville Society will meet at noon on Saturday, May 18 in Building 51 at the University of North Florida. The featured speaker, Dr. Keith Ashley is a professor of archaeology at UNF and will present a lecture titled “Mocama Indians and Spanish Missions: Life Beneath the Bell.”

When most people think of Spanish Missions, they think of California, New Mexico or even Texas. What many do not realize is that the Spanish Mission system in Florida occurred earlier and lasted longer than it did in any of those other areas. Among the Mocama-speaking Timucua of Northeast Florida, mission communities existed between 1587 and 1702.

Ashley’s lecture will discuss Mocama life under the mission bell, with emphasis on archaeological excavations at San Juan del Puerto and Santa Cruz de Guadalquini in Jacksonville. The lecture is free and open to the public, with complimentary refreshments served afterwards in the Archaeology Lab.

Parking on Saturday is free, and the faculty/staff/vendor spaces are open to everyone. For more information, contact Melva Price at (904) 241-9411 or aiajaxsoc@gmail.com.

Jazz and more at PBTS

Step back in time to the age of jazz, flappers and Prohibition when you walk through the doors of Club Manifest at Players by the Sea in Jacksonville Beach. Held in conjunction with the performance of “Wild Party,” Club Manifest is an immersive, interactive 1920s speakeasy that lets the audience become part of the show.

Guests can see the volatile relationship unfold between a gangster club owner and his beautiful singer who is torn between love and jealousy. The music is jumpin’ with a piano man who has eyes for the singer, while under the watchful glare of the club bouncer.

Club Manifest takes place on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. as a special preshow event to Andrew Lippa’s “Wild Party.” Tickets are $50, and include spirit tastings from Manifest Distilling, tasty bar bites from 927 Events, entrance to the speakeasy and reserved seating for “Wild Party.” Running through May 18, the show is a jazz-age musical about two lovers who throw the party-to-end-all-parties.

To purchase tickets to the Club Manifest experience or “Wild Party” only, visit PlayersbytheSea.org.

Keeping up with Kiwanis

The Kiwanis Club of the Jacksonville Beaches has been helping local children for more than 50 years. Involved in a variety of community service projects, the club meets at noon on the second and fourth Thursday of each month for lunch.

On Thursday, May 23, members will hear a presentation by Benji Felder, past executive with the Boy Scouts.

Lunch meetings are held at North Beach Bistro, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, in Atlantic Beach. Call (904) 372-4105 for more information or go to BeachesKiwanis.org.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ at ABET

Take a trip down the rabbit hole with a performance of “Alice in Wonderland: A Fantasy with Music,” now on stage at All Beaches Experimental Theatre. Based on the classic novel by Lewis Carroll, this lively premiere adaptation features a spirited troupe of performers telling Carroll’s classic story in the style of an old-time seaside music hall.

“Alice in Wonderland” runs through May 26. Tickets are $24 online or $25 at the door for adults, while students 18 and under are $12 online or $15 at the door. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

The theater is located at 544 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach. For tickets or more details, call (904) 249-7177 or visit ABETtheatre.com.

Summer theater camps

Calling all budding thespians: Players by the Sea is accepting registrations for its two summer camp sessions.

“Let’s Put on a Play!” begins on Monday, June 10 and runs through Saturday, June 28. Aimed at fourth- through 10th-graders, this unique three-week program incorporates improvisation, theater games and scene work while teaching students how to rehearse a play in a professional manner. Encouraging teamwork, listening, focus, projection and movement skills are developed. Camp culminates with a fully realized production of “Porridgegate” with set, costumes and lights.

“Let’s Put on a Musical!” runs from Monday, July 15 through Saturday, Aug. 3 for fifth- through 12-graders. In this session, campers will work creatively and collaboratively to present “Big Fish School Edition.” Campers will be exposed to movement, character development, emotional states, music rehearsal, and choreography, in addition to building the set, painting the set, finding props and selecting costumes. The camp culminates in two performances of the musical on Aug. 2-3 in the Studio Theatre.

Fee for each session is $450; to register, visit Players by the Sea at http://bit.ly/2Wwhztx.

Submit events to shorelines@jacksonville.com.

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